Where Jacksonville Jaguars' depth chart sits after initial wave of NFL free agency moves
Only time will tell whether the Jacksonville Jaguars will compete for a playoff spot, but the first step in that process is completed with NFL free agency essentially in the rearview mirror.
Some signings could trickle in over time, but after signing nine players at the start of the negotiation period earlier this week, don't expect great change within the team's roster before the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are Jacksonville's free-agent signees, officially inked on Thursday, a day after the official start of the NFL's new league year:
- CB Jourdan Lewis, Cowboys
- QB Nick Mullens, Vikings
- TE Johnny Mundt, Vikings
- TE Hunter Long, Rams
- WR Dyami Brown, Commanders
- S Eric Murray, Texans
- OL Patrick Mekari, Ravens
- OT Chuma Edoga, Cowboys
- C Robert Hainsey, Buccaneers
Jaguars general manager James Gladstone spoke at length Thursday about the team's offseason moves thus far, complimenting the team's staff for their efforts at landing their nine targets.
"There were some holes on our roster and unlike the draft, an NFL pro-free agent has the chance to say, ‘You know what, I appreciate the offer, but I'm going somewhere else,’ right? In the draft, you send a name into a system and they're now a part of your team. So, that was a dynamic that walking into that door on Monday, you feel like, you know what, we're going to have to adjust today," Gladstone said.
"Well, lo and behold, we had nine names that we were prioritizing and we ended up with nine players that ended up on our roster as of today. So, seeing that plan come to life, being executed in the way that it was, certainly something that at this point in time, I'm proud of."
Jacksonville's roster wasn't barren; the roster has plenty of talented players at key positions, including at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence. Still, as Gladstone mentioned, there were holes to fill and Jacksonville could come out of this free-agent cycle with four or five new starters on their opening-day depth chart.
With that being said, let's take a look at what Jacksonville's depth chart could look like after the wave of free-agency signings.
Jaguars initial depth chart projection after NFL free agency
Note: New additions are denoted in italics
Quarterbacks (3)
Starter(s): Trevor Lawrence
Reserves: Nick Mullens, John Wolford
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: Not much to say here. The Jaguars brought in Mullens, in part, to help Lawrence transition with offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. The Jaguars can draft a quarterback to develop him late or stick with Wolford as their third option.
Running backs (3)
Starter(s): Travis Etienne
Reserves: Tank Bigsby, Keilan Robinson
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: Etienne is poised to either be the team's starter or off the roster entirely. He's entering the fifth and final year of his contract after the team picked up his fifth-year option last year. They'll have to add more depth to this group with Bigsby posting an up-and-down season behind a struggling offensive line.
Wide receivers (8)
![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts to his first down pickup during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-florida-times-union/ca9fbdc92ce1d7e0cdd834bf0ca55434)
Starter(s): Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Dyami Brown, Parker Washington
Reserves: Joshua Cephus, Louis Rees-Zammit, Austin Trammell, David White Jr.
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: This is one of the groups with the most flux available post-NFL Draft. Brown and Washington are likely battling for playing time, but not in the same position. All four players will play a big role in this year's offense, but the draft could heavily influence this. They need to add here.
Tight ends (5)
![Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) gets into position during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets held off the Jaguars 32-25. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-florida-times-union/f995c9c7922afb0583d5d3fbd5ea5c86)
Starter(s): Brenton Strange, Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt
Reserves: Shawn Bowman, Patrick Murtaugh
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: Another position that is in a state of flux. It's unclear which of Long and Mundt will ultimately capture the primary tight end role after Strange. They're both listed as starters in the event of '12' personnel (two tight ends). The Jaguars will need to add another player here in the draft, but don't expect any to be a pure move tight end.
Offensive linemen (12)
Starter(s): Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, Anton Harrison
Reserves: Chuma Edoga, Cole Van Lanen, Luke Fortner, Cooper Hodges, Dennis Daley, Dieter Eiselen, Javon Foster
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: Gladstone made sure to get the offensive line taken care of in free agency, prioritizing the group. Hainsey and Mekari will be starters for at least this season and the same goes for Cleveland. Beyond that? Who knows. They must draft a player or two here in this year's draft, but not necessarily very early.
Defensive ends (2)
![Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) rushes for yards after picking up a fumble turnover forced by defensive end Travon Walker (44) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars edged the Colts on a field goal 37-34. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-florida-times-union/f8ebf0212b2068d4a016f93793622c1d)
Starter(s): Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker
Reserves: N/A
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: This one is funny. Technically, Armstead is still listed as a defensive end on the team's depth chart, but the team and Armstead made it clear recently that he's switching back inside. That leaves just Hines-Allen and Walker as the only two true defensive ends on the roster. The Jaguars will add to this position, but it will be interesting to see if they want Yasir Abdullah back in this group at all.
Defensive tackles (5)
Starter(s): Davon Hamilton, Arik Armstead
Reserves: Maason Smith, Tyler Lacy, Jordan Jefferson
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: Another group the Jaguars will add, and could do it as high as fifth-overall in the Draft next month. Hamilton struggled last year after missing most of the season in 2023 due to a back ailment that required an extended leave of absence. Armstead still has some juice inside, but the team needs a sure-fire plug-and-play defensive tackle to set the standard for years to come.
Linebackers (5)
Starter(s): Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Ventrell Miller
Reserves: Chad Muma, Yasir Abdullah
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: It's unclear exactly how the Jaguars feel about this group. Abdullah is the outlier, while the potential battle between Miller and Lloyd will be intriguing. Will Oluokun move back to middle linebacker (MIKE) with the new defensive coaching staff? This isn't a group that will take priority, but they do need to make some adjustments.
Cornerbacks (7)
![Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (3) warms up before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-florida-times-union/fe902646dc11fe4a5a86f10782ec57ab)
Starter(s): Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis
Reserves: Montaric 'Buster' Brown, De'Antre Prince, Christian Braswell, Zechariah McPhearson
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: This one's not finished, either. The Jaguars sought out Lewis as their "high-priced" free agent and he's slated to take over the team's nickel position. That leaves Jones and Week 1 Savage in a state of flux. The latter started as the team's nickel before being forced back to safety. The former could start opposite Campbell.
Expect Jacksonville to add to this position group early. It's not set.
Safeties (5)
Starter(s): Darnell Savage, Eric Murray
Reserves: Andrew Wingard, Antonio Johnson, Daniel Thomas
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: If Jacksonville wanted to, they could go into the season just with this group. Still, if they wanted to project toward the future, they'll add a player later on in the draft to create competition if nothing else.
Specialists (3)
Starter(s): PK Cam Little, P Logan Cooke, LS Ross Matiscik
Reserves: N/A
Analysis and how to improve ahead of season opener: The punter and long snapper went to the Pro Bowl (with a 4-13 franchise) and the kicker missed two kicks (27 of 29 field goals made; 27 of 27 extra points made) all season. Enough said.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars depth chart update: How it's looking after NFL free agency
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